What are your top one or two strategies for fitting in exercise each week?

Whether I was working or being SAHM, I find it just easier to do first thing. And maybe it's just me, but I find I sweat more (which I like) and have a higher tolerance in the morning.

I just go and do it, no matter how much I don't feel like it. When I'm really dragging and don't want to, I try to go into robot mode. I don't think about what I'm going, I just put on my workout clothes and shoes, and head to the basement. Total blank, zombie mind. It works for me. Once I'm down there, I'm usually fine with working out. And I always feel more accomplished on those days.

Tell yourself you have to do 15 minutes of exercize and then you can quit if you REALLY want to. Chances are, once you're warmed up and your heart rate is raised you'll be game to keep on going. If not, at least you've done something.

I work full time, commute 90 min each day, have a husband and three kids. We're pretty busy. But exercise is a priority for me because it makes me feel better and helps control my stress. So I get up early early during the week to get my workout in, and get up just early on the weekends. It's the only time I can fit it in.

I never thought I would get up at 5am just to exercise, and thankfully I got hooked on exercise before it became necessary due to moves & job changes to do the 5am thing. But now I can't imagine not doing it.

After work I usually don't have the time or energy to work out. My body definitely prefers the morning!

It's part of my daily schedule. I either get up early to get my workout in and start my day feeling energized, or, in the case of run days, go immediately after work before heading home (where it will be harder to leave for a run).

Examine the excuses you make for yourself and come up with ways to work around them. If you're "too tired" after work, get up early and exercise before work, etc.

I go in the morning before school (I'm in university) so I go at 6am then shower and go straight to class! then you don't have to get your but off the couch after a long day to workout.

Find ways to exercise you actually enjoy.

Like some others said, I get up and do it first thing in the morning. I have three very active children, so finding the time in the evenings just doesn't work for me. My husband has been doing the early morning workout for a few years and tried multiple times to convince me to try it when I complained about not having time to work out. I was firmly convinced that I could not get up that early. Then I joined a fitness program that runs 6-7 am twice a week and 7-8 am once a week. Once I got in the habit of getting up and exercising, getting up to start a shorter at-home workout two or three times a week was easier.

I know the early morning thing isn't for everyone, and some people have commitments that make it genuinely impossible, but it might be easier than you think. I insisted for a long time that I *couldn't* do it, but really, I just *wouldn't* do it.

mparent25 wrote: »

I work out early in the morning but some days I don't want to get out of bed so I take a preworkout to get me motivated also there is literally no way you can skip a workout after you've taken a preworkout

I think I'm out of the loop. What does it mean to "take a preworkout" ?

I am not great at setting a strict schedule for my life and need some flexibility. So I've found having a number of exercise options that cover indoor, outdoor, work and home seems to get the job done!

- if it the weather is good I walk outside on my work breaks or at home after work and on the weekends. So lots of ways to fit that in. I keep walking shoes at work and home.
- Downloaded Zumba videos to get some cardio if walking outside can't happen
- Downloaded some strength training videos and have handweights at home
- Use Wii Fit at home.
- We have a free gym at work but I don't really have time to use during work hours. So I use it after work 1-2 a week for strength exercises unless something else comes up or I work late

I think things will change up again once summer hits. I forsee wanting to spend more time outdoors to get exercise.

I do exercises I enjoy, and stick them in my recreational time, so I don't actually have "work-outs" or "planned exercise", I just have an hour or two a day where I go swimming. It's a way to unwind, exercise and have fun, therefore it's more 'recreational'.

tjostes1 wrote: »

How do you make exercise a priority in your busy life? How do you get up off the couch when you're tired after work?

I feel like making sure I get enough protein has helped me with the feeling like getting off the couch part. there are still days i don't feel like it. With the weights once I start i enjoy it. the cardio I admit I endure.

I do it everyday after dinner except Sundays no exceptions unless it's physical ( I have a bad flu or and injury) no excuses.

You just have to decide you want to be fit so bad that exercise is as important as anything else in your life (work, bathing, eating everybody has different priorities). I also have a reward system for losing. Ten more lbs and I get that pair of boots I've been drooling over. i don't recommend using food as a reward though.

I leave my sneakers on after dinner and put the kids to bed. It forces me to get up and workout

I workout at lunch almost every weekday then walk my dogs for over an hour on weekend days. Our lunchroom at work stinks of everyone's warmed up food, so it's no struggle to leave the building for an hour. Blessed with a gym across the street from my office.

I take a class and go to work. I wait tables in a busy restaurants me days I hit 20k steps.